to February 10, 1971 when young Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko, in a white fur hat, skated on the Makomanai speedway in Sapporo during the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Please share any Royal Hat related updates and conversation in the comments below.
Photo from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
Thanks for the hat update Jake. Yes, I too am going to miss Autumn and her stylish hats.
Any pic of the ever-elegant Princess Alexandra is worth a look; this was quite a nostalgic selection. The hatted photo (I’m guessing plaited straw) in particular has me intrigued, wondering what was being said– it seems to have an interesting story to tell.
Crown Princess Michiko’s white fur hat:
For Michiko lovers: the pics below are from a magazine post which celebrates Michiko’s style in her Crown Princess days. There are DOZENS of beautiful colour photos of Michiko wearing hats. The post praises her “attire that embodies the beauty, dignity, elegance, cuteness, and compassion of Japanese women”. (good on you Google Translate :)) I feel that Michiko indeed carries off the seeming impossible task of combining cuteness (a Japanese virtue) with dignity – especially when wearing that furry hat – which she wore not just in the snow, but to formal day events – 8 different outfits below:
with rust-coloured suit
https://mi-mollet.com/articles/-/15530
with lilac coat
https://mi-mollet.com/articles/-/15527
looking angelic in a white skiing suit and matching fur mittens
https://mi-mollet.com/articles/-/15521
with satin ensemble
https://mi-mollet.com/articles/-/15517
more exquisite skiing outfits (the hat colour has been altered during photoprocessing, I think)
https://mi-mollet.com/articles/-/15512
with green suit
https://mi-mollet.com/articles/-/15508
with sunglasses on top of the hat 🙂
https://mi-mollet.com/articles/-/15186
with Chanel-style coat
https://mi-mollet.com/articles/-/15170
She really got a lot of mileage out of this one! Interesting to see how well it pairs with both the sport and formal day appearances. I especially like the last photo of the all-white ensemble.
Apparently, the dress code of the rigidly matched hats and suits for Japanese princesses came later.
Thanks for posting, mcncln.
The Earl of Wessex was in Côte d’Ivoire last week, carrying (what I assume) a panama straw fedora (and presumably wearing it at some point): https://www.instagram.com/p/B8RrLv8HHLd/. He was also at a military graduation earlier today in his Royal Colonel cap: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8g1DOanzgZ/.
A throwback of Princess Alexandra looking 1960s chic in a woven (crocheted?) straw exaggerated pillbox hat at St. Christopher’s Hospice: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8R0aLZHDT5/.
William & Kate in hard hats visiting a steel plant in southern Wales on 4 February:
Embed from Getty Images
Any New Yorkers here at Royal Hats? Did you see Mathilde and Philippe in NYC this week? No hats unfortunately.
Finally, the separation of Peter and Autumn sadly will probably mean no more royal hats from Autumn. She has been a favorite royal hat wearer in recent years and has made up for the hat mistakes she made in her early royal years.
Thanks Jake for the update. I am really going to miss Autumn Phillips’ hat outings.Sadly for us, we’ve lost 3 now (Princess Haya, Duchess of Sussex, Autumn). All great, daring hat wearers.
Camilla wore on of her Paddington hats yesterday
Embed from Getty Images
And Kate missed an opportunity. Wouldn’t a hat have finished this look off well?
Embed from Getty Images
So agree!
Such a beautiful, talented young princess! Athletic, and she is also (still today) an accomplished pianist!
March 29, 1971: Same hat, skiing.
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/crown-princess-michiko-skies-on-march-29-1971-in-tokyo-news-photo/92930556?adppopup=true
1958, 2013(!) playing tennis; 1990: playing piano – all three times with Akihito!
Embed from Getty Images
Excellent, Jimbo! Didn’t they meet playing tennis?
They did, indeed!
Enchanting! The hat and the crossed hands give this a turn of the century look.
That is a Lovely Picture of the retired Emperor and Empress!!😊🥰😘💖🌻🌹🌼👏